beacon (september 2011)
DESCRIPTION
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry Monthly NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
September 2011
The Lowcountry
Beacon Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of the
Lowcountry
A Month of Sundays
Sunday Service: 10:00 am
September 4 “Let It Sunshine, Let It Rain”
~ Rev. Jane Page ~ (UU Statesboro)
September 11
"A Minister Reflects On The Religious Challenge of 9/11"
~ Rev. Manuel Holland ~
September 18 Anne Lamott’s Essay
“Ham of God” ~ Scott Dillard ~
September 25 How and Why Religion Should
Support Justice, Equity and Compassion In Human Relations"
~ Rev. Manuel Holland ~
Children and Youth Religious Education from 10 am to 11 am. Refreshments following service. Church is located at 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. Call for further details: 843-837-3330
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
My sermon for August was based on the first of the seven principles which define us as Unitarians and Universalists. My next six ser-mons will be based on the remain-ing six principles.
I plan to have copies of those ser-mons available. The opening words at the service in August dealt with the first principle. The words were by The Rev. Dr.
Marilyn Sewell and they are as follows:
“The first principle is our founda-tion. It speaks of respecting oth-ers enough to never objectify and control them in the service of ide-ology, however precious. It en-courages people to unfold accord-ing to their true and authentic na-ture, to live with integrity according to their own heart’s leaning.
As Unitarian Univeralists, we do not ask members to adopt any creed or doctrine. People are ac-cepted as they are, whether they are Christians, Buddhists, Jews, humanists, atheists, or simply searching. Whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. Whether they are socialists or Republicans. Whether they are white or people of color.
All have worth and dignity. All are welcome at the table.”
~Manuel Holland, Senior Minister
YOU ARE INVITED Dr. Kathy Bateson President of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina has invited Olive and me to have our Peace Posters exhibited in the Bank of America Com-munity Room at the Arts Center. There are now 23 posters, each one being a copy of the winning poster for the past 23 years that Lions Clubs International has sponsored the International Peace Poster Contest. Artists are age 11 – 13. Please join us!
Reception and Viewing of Exhibit
CHILDREN’S VISIONS OF PEACE
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
5:30 – 7:00 pm The Bank of America Community Room
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
There will be a brief program and light refreshments will be provided by the sponsors
The exhibit will be in place from September 13 to October 23
2 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
Programs, Meetings, and Special Events
Board Meeting - No Board Meeting This Month. The monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is held on the fourth Thursday of each month in the UUCL Clara Barton Conference Room. Visitors are always welcome. Board Retreat - Saturday, September 24 from 10 am - 4 pm. Eating Without Meat - Saturday, September 17 2 - 5 pm. Join us at the UUCL to learn about eating and cooking using healthy and delicious vegetarian foods. Please bring a dish to share. There will be a Tai Chi demonstration by Benedicte. This group was organized this summer by UUCL friends, Barb Ryan & Rick Liss. Participants must R.S.V.P. to Peggy at 757-7780 or [email protected]. E-Team - Sunday, September 25. Following service. The Environmental Team meets on the 4th Sunday of each month. Knitter’s Circle - Wednesday, September 28 from 6:30 - 8 pm. Meets on the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8 pm. We make Prayer Shawls, Comfort Blankets, Wraps, Hats, Baby Clothes, and other items to give to members and friends of the congregation in times of need. You do not have to be a Knitter to be in this group. Our doors are open to those who crochet, quilt, weave, sew, and do macramé. Bring whatever you are working on and come en-joy an evening with good company. For more information call Ann at 422-2598 or email [email protected]. Newsletter Deadline - Thursday, September 15. The deadline for the Beacon is on the 15th of each month. Items should be emailed to Mary-Michael at [email protected]. UU Animal Ministry - Sunday, September 18. Following service. UU Animal Ministry meets the second Sunday of each month. UU Singers - Sundays at 9:30 am. Singers are invited to arrive early before Sunday’s service to practice the hymns for that day. This is the first step to creating a Music Pro-gram here @ UUCL.
Treasurers Report Fiscal Year 2010-11
Our 2010-11 operations pro-duced a usable cash flow from profits of $11,479. Your Board, along with recommen-dations from your Finance Committee, voted to place $9479 into cash reserves and $2000 for fiscal year 2011-12 contingency expenses. This brings our cash reserves to approx $26,000. Our goal for cash reserves is $60,000 which is approximately 6 months of operating ex-penses. The excess came from three sources that were not antici-pated: 1) Receipt of a large pledge after the start of the fiscal year; 2) fund raising over budget (partially due to late payments from previous fiscal years efforts); and 3) an increase in income from non pledging friends. While we have stabilized our finances, we have yet to rees-tablish true financial "health". Some areas where we are still lacking are: • Funding for at least Half
Time Ministry; • Funding for full payment
of UU Dues; • Funding for exterior and
interior maintenance of property.
While we are on a more posi-tive track financially we have a ways to go and therefore must be vigilant and set care-ful priorities for the funds we do have.
~Daniel A. Tweel, Treasurer
2011 - 2012 Directory
UUCL is in the process of preparing the Members and Friends Directory for 2011 - 2012. Please check your current listing and verify that your name, address, telephone and cell phone num-bers, as well as your email address are correct. If you are not currently listed and wish to be, or if you have changes or updates please email [email protected] no later than September 15th.
3 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
Wish List Corner During the summer two outstanding projects were completed and we all wish to thank those responsible for their contributions. Doug V. donated painting and cleaning supplies used to clean and paint all of the Reli-gious Education rooms. Cathy and John S. donated all the vertical blinds now hanging in the Religious Education rooms, which benefit both our kids and the Family Promise program, Peggy T. coordi-nated the purchase and installation of the blinds, and Home Depot donated the installation labor. We also wish to thank those who contributed to the Foyer Decorating. Those individuals are: Fran F, Dorothy F, Gordon S, Dan and Joely T, Peggy T, and one anonymous do-nor. These contributions made a significant improvement in the appearance of our foyer.
Dorothy F, Gwen B, Mary M, Olive H, Pat A and Manuel H were recognized as Honor-ees of the Congregation. All have been members since the first decade of UUCL.
4 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
Pictures from the August 14th Turtle Hunt field trip led by naturalist Carlos Chacon. (Top Left) Participants digging for turtle eggs. (Bottom Left) A turtle which did not hatch with the others and was given a lift to the sea. (Right) Carlos Chacon addresses the group of participants prior to the field trip.
Don’t know what this is for...but we LOVE the picture!
Recycle Your UU WORLD Magazine
Members, please bring in your UU WORLD maga-zines after reading them so we can share with friends and visitors.
5 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
UU NEWS AND UPDATES
Eating Without Meat Group of the Lowcountry
Saturday, September 17, 2011
2:00 pm ‐ 5:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of the Lowcountry
~ Bring a dish to share ~
~ Meet new people ~
~ Learn something new ~
~ Enjoy great food ~
Tai Chi demonstration by Benedicte
Participants must RSVP.
To RSVP please call Peggy at
757‐7780 or [email protected]
Rev. Schmidt Called to Serve Congratulations to Rev. Thomas Schmidt, he has been called by the UU Church of Midland (Texas) to serve as their full-time minis-ter. Since the Midland church is currently with-out a minister, Tom has been asked to start as soon as possible. Our best wishes to Tom in this and all future en-deavors. Rebecca and Will Schmidt are staying in Bluffton, however, and we are glad they will remain a part of our community. Best Wishes to Tom!
UU President Convicted
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), was convicted of misdemeanor charges related to his act of peaceful civil disobedience in protest of Arizona’s anti-immigrant legislation. For his act of conscience, he received a sentence of one day in jail, with credit for the one day already served. In response to the conviction, President Morales stated, “As people of faith, we are called to oppose injustice and help protect the most vulnerable among us… We Unitarian Universalists will con-tinue to stand on the side of love against such leg-islation and the anti-immigrant sentiment it repre-sents.” You can read his full statement here. Read more from the Associated Press.
6 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
Dear Members and Friends,
As summer draws to a close, many of you are returning to the Lowcountry after seeking respite from the heat in a vari-ety of places; others have been busy with vacations and family activities; others have remained here enduring an unusually lengthy period of very hot weather while also enjoying all that the magnificent beautiful Lowcountry offers (in every season); and others will return at different times over the next several months. We feel a con-tinuous joy and appreciation of our coming together as a be-loved community!
As we come into the fall and winter, your Board will be ad-dressing several issues and each of you will be involved! These issues will include Growth, Finances, Ministry, de-veloping a Congregational Covenant, reviewing our Mis-sion Statement, and other items. The focus of the upcom-ing Board Retreat will be on developing an overall plan for this year.
As always, please speak to me or any member of your Board if you have any concerns, ques-tions, ideas or anything else, as we welcome your input!
There is much excitement and enthusiasm as we continue to meet our challenges, rejoice in our accomplishments, and “rediscover” ourselves as a Congregation.
In warm fellowship, Peggy
President’s Message
Some of the young participants during the June 18th Bird Watching field trip to Pickney Island led by naturalist Carlos Chacon.
Participants getting a better view of the birds on Pickney Island during the June 18th Bird Watching field trip led by naturalist Carlos Chacon.
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
7 The Lowcountry Beacon, September 2011
Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry covenants to affirm and promote:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in the society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The Living Tradition Which We Share Draws From Many Sources:
• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder; affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sa-cred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry
Our Mission To enrich and clarify our understanding of religious thought;
to provide experiences for spiritual growth; to encourage and protect the right of individual freedom of belief;
to promote the democratic process in human relations; and to advance these principles for the benefit of each other,
our community and our world.
Committee Chairs Aesthetics & Décor Fran Farrell Peggy Tweel Beyond Sundays Folly King Building Maintenance Doug VanNostran Care Committee Dan Tweel Grounds Paul Brophy Mary A. Walker Finance Dan Tweel Fund Raising Janice Alden Hospitality & Kitchen Kathleen Mirin Membership
Ron Titus Music Rosalind Ayers Planned Giving Coordinator Rev. Manuel Holland Promotion & Publicity Sandra Rumanek Religious Education Carol Weir Social Activities Libba Beerman Strategic Vision Team Mary Alice Walker Worship Cheryl McCarthy Social Justice Groups: E Team Harry Gregory Family Promise UU Animal Ministry Peggy Tweel
Editor Mary-Michael Hanbury
Email: [email protected]
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcounty
110 Malphrus Road Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 837-3330
www.UULowcountry.org
Office Hours Volunteer Office Staff
Thursdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Senior Minister Manuel Holland
Religious Education Ann Harrison
President Peggy Tweel
Leadership Staff
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Standing on the Side of Love in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island for over 30 years.
SEPTEMBER 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3
4 9:30 am UU Singers 10:00 am Worship “Let It Sunshine, Let It Rain” Rev. Jane Page (UU Statesboro)
5 6
7
8
9 10
11 9:30 am UU Singers 10:00 am Worship "A Minister Reflects On The Reli-gious Challenge of 9/11" Rev. Manuel Holland
12
13
14
15
October
Newsletter Deadline
16
17
2 pm - 5 pm Eating Without Meat
18 9:30 am UU Singers 10:00 am Worship Anne Lamott’s Essay “Ham of God” Scott Dillard 11:30 am UU Animal Ministry
19 20
21
22
No Board of Directors
Meeting
23
24
Board Retreat 10 am - 4 pm
25
9:30 am UU Singers 10:00 am Worship How and Why Religion Should Support Justice, Equity and Com-passion In Human Relations" Rev. Manuel Holland 11:30 am E-Team
26 27 28
6:30 pm Knitter’s Circle
29
30
By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. (Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830‐1885)